Edgy MD

The Hatteburg guy had my favorite scene --- the 10 bitter soul-searing seconds of silence of him sitting around the house at Christmastime waiting for the phone to ring and tell him his life isn't over. You got the idea he had been sitting in that same place since October 1, watching his model family coming and going in his model home, wondering if he was worthy of any of it, and if it's all going to disappear on him at any moment... if that fucking phone doesn't ring. I imagined the same fear and ice in dozens or hundreds of ballplayer homes every Christmas. Ron Washington had the best line in the movie. Ron Washington!

Well, I didn't get to post, but yesterday minus 25 years, Bob Ojeda matched up against future Hall of Famer and 1969 Mets ringwearer Nolan Ryan, and managed to go the distance despite giving up 10 hits --- nine of them singles, but combined with two walks yielded, such a complete game is all but untinkable today. The Mets lefthanded contingent had no problem getting around on Nolie, with six hits and two walks out of the first three batters. Hernandez two-run fifth-inning triple put the game well in hand for the Mets, But there's something about it being over when it's over, so Bob Ojeda stuck around until it was over. Both Aurelio (Senor Smoke) Lopez and Charile Kerfiled got into the game. That's a lot of fun times and hard-working elastic. The Mets escape the Astrodome with one win in their back pockets.

Two forumites gave it a 10? Really? I mean, Citizen Kane, The Battleship Potemkin, Ran, and Moneyball? I liked it plenty, but I'm not about to go knocking on my neighbor's doors to tell them they've got to go see it.

He also caught a perfect game before anybody (including many Yankee fans) even knew his name.

It was really nice of the Phillies to set the market so crazy high with Ryan Howard before he done mangled himself.

A small dream dies as Joe McEwing joins Robin Ventura in Chicago instead of Terry Collins in Queens.

Years is cool too.

Oh, I didn't connect that guy with Jeremy Brown. I should have, but that guy seemed at least three bills.

I liked the year we included managers, stadia, mascots, announcers and such.

Art Howe, whatever his flaws and virtues, is (and was) at least an athletic man. Jeremy Giambi was also played by a guy who was about 5'9". And the David Justice actor, while he had a well-cut torso, had skinny little legs. Nice swing, though. I was disappointed to find out the 2002 Visalia Oaks didn't actually have a profoundly obese catcher.

Sure, but it's only mentioned, and until it's announced, he's sort of next in line. I don't know if he or Morgan are under consideration for the last two spots on the big-league roster, but if they're serious about improving the defense at all, I hope they get an infielder and an outfielder. I realize it's sort of a double standard when I accept that a guy like Hudgens can teach hitting despite not being much of a hitter himself, but I hope Teufel isn't put in charge of infield coaching, because he was never much at all with the glove.

Frayed Knot wrote: Met connections/sightings: Beane of course. Not just as A's GM but also in flashback scenes to his signing and his NYM career (wearing #35 with shots of Straw in the background) Art Howe. Played by Philip Hoffman as much more grouchy than the sunny if bland Art we all knew and ... tolerated. Chad Bradford. One of the few players with significant speaking parts. Paper NYM David Justice. A prominent player/actor in the flick. Izzy. Often mentioned but never shown. We also got some brief but sexy Jeff Tam action. Not sure if I saw Mike Fyhrie. I was rooting for Beane the moment I saw his ex-wife's house. I don't know what went down behind closed doors, but my impression was that Art Howe deserved better. On the other hand, he was dumped after 205 wins in two years, so they certainly weren't much enamored with him.

I figured they go with Mat(t) Gamel.

This is the current broad picture for 2012, to the best of my reckoning. Gentle corrections are certainly welcome. Your Projected 2012 Mets (Orange Indicates Players Have Options) Starting Pitchers43 R.A. Dickey=#FF8000]35 Dillon Gee49 Jonathon Niese34 Mike Pelfrey57 Johan SantanaDoB: 10/29/1974DoB: 4/28/1986DoB: 10/27/1986DoB: 1/14/1984DoB: 3/13/1979Relief Pitchers46 Manny Acosta=#FF8000]27 Pedro Beato33 Taylor Buchholz40 Tim Byrdak77 D.J. CarrascoDoB: 5/1/1981DoB: 10/27/1986DoB: 10/13/1981DoB: 10/31/1973DoB: 4/12/1977Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders19 Danny Herrera39 Bobby Parnell9 Ronny Paulino30 Josh Thole=#FF8000]29 Ike DavisDoB: 10/21/1984DoB: 9/8/1984DoB: 4/21/1988DoB: 4/28/1986DoB: 3/22/1987 Infielders28 Daniel Murphy11 Ruben Tejada2 Justin Turner=#FF8000]63 Jordany Valdespin5 David WrightDoB: 4/1/1985DoB: 10/27/1989DoB: 11/23/1984DoB: 12/23/1984DoB: 12/20/1982 Outfielders44 Jason Bay=#FF8000]21 Lucas Duda6 Nick Evans16 Angel Pagan=#FF8000]20 Jason PridieDoB: 9/20/1978DoB: 2/3/1986DoB: 1/30/1986DoB: 7/2/1981DoB: 10/9/1983 Also on 40-Man Roster Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers=#FF8000]32 Jennry Mejia=#FF8000]66 Armando Rodriguez=#FF8000]63 Chris Schwinden=#FF8000]64 Josh Stinson=#FF8000]67 Manny AlvarezDoB: 10/11/1989DoB: 1/28/1988DoB: 9/22/1986DoB: 3/14/1988DoB:12/18/1985Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders=#FF8000]36 Dale Thayer=#FF8000]13 Mike Nickeas=#FF8000]65 Zach Lutz15 Valentino Pascucci=#FF8000]3 Josh SatinDoB: 12/17/1980DoB: 2/13/1983DoB: 6/3/1986DoB: 11/17/1978DoB: 12/23/1984 Outfielders=#FF8000]23 Mike Baxter=#FF8000]26 Fernando MartinezDoB: 12/7/1984DoB: 10/10/1988 Potential Free Agents Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers47 Miguel Batista38 Chris Capuano55 Chris Young18 Ryota Igarashi45 Jason IsringhausenDoB: 2/19/1971DoB: 8/19/1978DoB: 5/25/1979DoB:5/28/1979DoB: 9/7/1972 Infielders Outfielders7 Jos� Reyes12 Scott Hairston22 Willie HarrisDoB: 6/11/1983DoB: 5/25/1980DoB: 6/22/1978 Prospective Coaching Staff (Orange Indicates Purely Speculative Information Based on the Most Obvious Internal Candidates) ManagerBench CoachBatting CoachPitching CoachThird Base Coach10 Terry Collins=#FF8000]86 Wally Backman52 Dave Hudgens59 Dan Warthan=#FF8000]81 Tim TeufelDoB: 5/27/1949DoB: 9/22/1959DoB: 12/5/1956DoB: 12/1/1952DoB: 7/7/1958First Base CoachBullpen CoachBullpen CatchersHead Trainer=#FF8000]50 Kevin Morgan=#FF8000]56 Ricky Bones53 Eric Langill54 Dave Racaniello Ray RamirezDoB: 12/3/1969DoB: 4/7/1969DoB: 4/9/1979DoB: 10/15/1981Assistant Trainer Mike Herbst

When last seen, he was failing a drug test and slammed with a 50-game suspension.

Exactly. Anything that makes different teams more different is OK with me. Giant ugly fiberglass statue? Mountain in center field? Drunken out-of-work actors singing unrehearsed versions of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"? I say go crazy. Just as long as, should it work, the Mets don't try to copy it.

I approve. Long as it's not my park.

Twenty-five years ago today, the 1986 post-season began for the Mets as Dwight Gooden dominated the Houston Astros in the dome where he made his big league debut two and a half years earlier. Gooden went seven innings, striking out five and walking three, holding the 'Stros to seven hits and a lone rone on a Glenn Davis solo homer. Unfortunately for the Mets, Gooden more than met his match in Houston ace Mike Scott, who went the distance, striking out 14 (!!) Mets and limiting them to five singles and a walk --- one of those singles a pinch-jobbie by Danny Heep, the player the Mets got from Houston for Scott back in the 1982-193 offseason. http://www.leaptoad.com/mets/gamedetail.php?gameno=4010 No Met so much as reaches third until the ninth, when Darryl Strawberry singles with one out, steals second, and advances on a groundout to first by Mookie Wilson. Up came Danny Heep, who had exactly the kind of clutch spirit and heart that we're missing around here. ... and he struck out to end the game. Somewhere in the back of the Mets heads was the thought that they really really didn't want to face Scott three times in the series.

That's good that you feel that way, as we're guaranteed to get sadsack reports from the networks and from MLB decrying the ratings dip as large market teams fall away.

We quit on 'er.

The Queens Tribune says hello to one of your harmless wacky Mets fans.

Like that "agreement" meant something when George was alive.

G-Fafif wrote: 11. 1988, NYM 10 MON 6 On April 4, 1988, we all learned a new phrase: Tension ring. Use it in a sentence. �Darryl Strawberry�s home run at Olympic Stadium traveled so far, it struck the tension ring just below the roof in right field.� Which home run? He hit two. So did Kevin McReynolds. And Kevin Elster and Lenny Dykstra each hit one. What�s your point? The Mets hit six home runs, a team record � so we learned the new math, too. Kaboom! qQHporpaZnc

I pretty much filed all those complaints under "He sucker-punched a black guy."

I love that every fan I hear from laments the loss of the heart of titans like Damon and Matsui. If they want to overpay fading performers and double down in pursuit of clutchmastery an champion-ness, that's all fine with me. I'll put my money on guys with fast bats and good curveballs who hopefully aren't asswads.